Integrated operating device of resistance and brake for exercise bike

ABSTRACT

An integrated operating device has a brake mechanism having a brake cable, a resistance mechanism having a resistance cable, and an operating mechanism. The operating mechanism has a pivoting disk and an operating rod. The pivoting disk is pivotally mounted on a bike frame. An end of the resistance cable is connected to an edge of the pivoting disk. When the pivoting disk pivots, the resistance cable is winded around an outer annular surface of the pivoting disk. The operating rod is pivotally connected to the pivoting disk, is capable of turning the pivoting disk, and has a hook segment. The hook segment is connected to the brake cable. When the operating rod pivots relative to the pivoting disk, the hook segment moves to tighten or to release the brake cable. By this, the integrated operating device is capable of controlling the resistance mechanism and the brake mechanism with one operating rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for an exercise bike, especially to a device that is applied on an exercise bike and is capable of adjusting resistance and controlling brake with one operating rod.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Conventionally, an exercise bike has a resistance mechanism and a brake mechanism. The resistance mechanism and the brake mechanism respectively have their own operating rods, which means a user controls the resistance mechanism and the brake mechanism respectively through two operating rods independent from each other.

However, operating two operating rods respectively with two hands during exercising is not only inconvenient but also quite dangerous. Besides, configuring two operating rods to control two mechanisms increases complexity on bike body structure and cost in component consumption. Therefore, the configuration of the conventional exercise bike, i.e. two operating rods to respectively control the resistance mechanism and the brake mechanism, needs to be improved.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an integrated operating device to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an integrated operating device that is capable of controlling resistance mechanism and brake mechanism with one operating rod, so that the integrated operating device simplifies visual appearance, makes the operation more convenient, and reduces costs.

The integrated operating device is adapted to be mounted on a bike frame and is adapted to control a wheel. The integrated operating device has a brake mechanism, a resistance mechanism, and an operating mechanism. The brake mechanism is adapted to be mounted on the bike frame, is adapted to stop the wheel from rotating, and has a brake cable. The resistance mechanism is adapted to be mounted on the bike frame, is adapted to apply rotating resistance to the wheel, and has a resistance cable. The operating mechanism has a pivoting disk, a connecting unit, and an operating rod. The pivoting disk is adapted to be pivotally mounted on the bike frame. An end of the resistance cable is connected to an edge of the pivoting disk. When the pivoting disk pivots, the resistance cable is winded around an outer annular surface of the pivoting disk such that the pivoting disk is capable of tightening or releasing the resistance cable. The connecting unit is securely mounted on the pivoting disk. The operating rod is capable of turning the pivoting disk via the connecting unit and has a pivoting segment, a hook segment, and a shaft segment. The pivoting segment is pivotally mounted on the connecting unit. The hook segment is securely mounted on the pivoting segment and is connected to the brake cable. The shaft segment is securely mounted on the pivoting segment and is capable of moving relative to the pivoting disk by the pivoting segment pivoting relative to the connecting unit. When the shaft segment moves, the hook segment moves along with the shaft segment to tighten or to release the brake cable.

By the pivoting disk pivotally mounted on the bike frame and the resistance cable connected to the pivoting disk, when the pivoting disk pivots, the rope body of the resistance cable is winded on the outer annular surface of the pivoting disk, and the rope body of the resistance cable engages in the annular groove of the pivoting disk, so that the pivoting disk is capable of tightening or releasing the resistance cable to operate the resistance mechanism.

By the pivoting segment of the operating rod pivotally mounted on the connecting unit and the hook segment connected to the brake cable, when a user pulls the operating rod and moves the shaft segment relative to the pivoting disk, the hook segment moves along with the shaft segment to tighten or to release the brake cable to operate the brake mechanism.

Because the operating rod is capable of turning the pivoting disk via the connecting unit to operate the resistance mechanism, and the operating rod is also capable of pivoting relative to the pivoting disk to operate the brake mechanism, the user is allowed to operate the brake mechanism and the resistance mechanism with one operating rod, thereby simplifying visual appearance of the exercise bike, making operating more convenient, and reducing costs of components.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrated operating device in accordance with the present invention, showing the integrated operating device applied on an exercise bike;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the integrated operating device in FIG. 1, showing the resistance mechanism and the brake mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the integrated operating device in FIG. 1, showing the operating mechanism;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the integrated operating device in FIG. 1, showing the operating mechanism and the exercise bike;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are operational views of the integrated operating device in FIG. 1, showing the operating rod turning the pivoting disk; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are operational views of the integrated operating device in FIG. 1, showing the operating rod pivoting relative to the pivoting disk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, an integrated operating device in accordance with the present invention is adapted to be mounted on a bike frame A, and is adapted to control a wheel B. In this embodiment, the integrated operating device has a brake mechanism 10, a resistance mechanism 20, and an operating mechanism 30.

The brake mechanism 10 is adapted to be mounted on the bike frame A, and is adapted to stop the wheel B from rotating. The brake mechanism 10 has a brake cable 11. Specifically, in this embodiment, the brake mechanism 10 has two clamping units 12. When the brake cable 11 is pulled and is tightened, the two clamping units 12 move toward each other and clamp the wheel B on two opposite sides to stop the wheel B from rotating by friction. But the structure of the brake mechanism 10 is not limited to the abovementioned, as long as the brake mechanism 10 is actuated by tightening the brake cable 11.

The resistance mechanism 20 is adapted to be mounted on the bike frame A, and is adapted to apply rotating resistance to the wheel B. The resistance mechanism 20 has a resistance cable 21. Specifically, in this embodiment, the resistance mechanism 20 has a C-shaped board 22. Multiple magnetic poles 221 are mounted on an inner surface of the C-shaped board 22. When the resistance cable 21 is tightened or released, the C-shaped board 22 moves relative to the wheel B back or forth, and is capable of covering an outer annular surface and the two opposite sides of the wheel B to apply rotating resistance to the wheel B via the magnetic poles 221.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the operating mechanism 30 has a pivoting disk 31, a connecting unit 32, an operating rod 33, a positioning unit 34, and two limiting units 35.

The pivoting disk 31 is adapted to be pivotally mounted on the bike frame A. An end of the resistance cable 21 is connected to an edge of the pivoting disk 31. In this embodiment, the pivoting disk 31 has an annular groove 311, multiple positioning grooves 312, and a notch 313. The annular groove 311 is formed on an outer annular surface of the pivoting disk 31. When the pivoting disk 31 pivots, the rope body of the resistance cable 21 is winded around the outer annular surface of the pivoting disk 31, and the rope body of the resistance cable 21 engages in the annular groove 311, so that the pivoting disk 31 is capable of tightening or releasing the resistance cable 21. The positioning groove 312 is formed on a side surface of the pivoting disk 31, and is arranged in an arced line. The notch 313 is formed on the outer annular surface of the pivoting disk 31 and is concaved toward a center of the pivoting disk 31.

The connecting unit 32 is securely mounted on the pivoting disk 31. The connecting unit 32 has a stopping segment 321, a mounting segment 322, and an extending segment 323.

The operating rod 33 is capable of turning the pivoting disk 31 via the connecting unit 32. Specifically, in this embodiment, the mounting segment 322 of the connecting unit 32 is securely mounted on one of two sides of the pivoting disk 31, and the extending segment 323 is mounted through the notch 313 of the pivoting disk 31 and pivotally connected to the operating rod 33 on the other one of the two sides of the pivoting disk 31 with a pivot 3231, wherein the pivot 3231 is perpendicular to an axis of the pivoting disk 31, such that the pivot 3231 is parallel to the pivoting disk 31. In this embodiment, the operating rod 33 has a pivoting segment 331, a hook segment 332, and a shaft segment 333. The pivoting segment 331 is pivotally mounted on the extending segment 323 of the connecting unit 32. The hook segment 332 is securely mounted on the pivoting segment 331, and is connected to the brake cable 11. The shaft segment 333 is securely mounted on the pivoting segment 331, and is moveable relative to the pivoting disk 31 by the pivoting segment 331 pivoting relative to the connecting unit 32. When the shaft segment 333 moves, the hook segment 332 moves along with the shaft segment 333 to tighten or to release the brake cable 11.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, as well as FIGS. 7 and 8, specifically, in this embodiment, because the operating rod 33 is normally located in a radial direction of the pivoting disk 31, and because the pivot 3231 between the pivoting segment 331 of the operating rod 33 and the connecting unit 32 is parallel to the pivoting disk 31, when the pivoting segment 331 pivots relative to the connecting unit 32, the shaft segment 333 is capable of moving toward the two sides of the pivoting disk 31. In other words, a user is allowed to hold the operating rod 33 to turn the pivoting disk 31 back and forth to operate the resistance mechanism 20, and the user is also allowed to pull the operating rod 33 left and right to operate the brake mechanism 10. But in other embodiments, the pivot 3231 between the pivoting segment 331 of the operating rod 33 and the connecting unit 32 is not limited to being parallel to the pivoting disk 31, as the pivot 3231 can also be inclined to the pivoting disk 31.

Besides, in this embodiment, the pivoting segment 331 and the hook segment 332 of the operating rod 33 are located in the notch 313 on the outer annular surface of the pivoting disk 31, which means the pivoting segment 331 and the hook segment 332 are connected to each other through the notch 313. Further, a connecting point between the hook segment 332 of the operating rod 33 and the brake cable 11 and a pivoting point between the pivoting segment 331 of the operating rod 33 and the connecting unit 32 are respectively located on the two sides of the pivoting disk 31. But it is not limited thereto in other embodiments, as the pivoting disk 31 can be implemented without the notch 313, such that the pivoting segment 331 and the hook segment 332 can be connected to each other across the two sides in the radial direction of the pivoting disk 31. Alternatively, the pivoting segment 331 and the hook segment 332 can also be located on the same side of the pivoting disk 31. Additionally, the operating rod 33 selectively abuts the stopping segment 321 of the connecting unit 32.

The positioning unit 34 is adapted to be mounted on the bike frame A. When the pivoting disk 31 pivots, the positioning unit 34 selectively engages in one of the positioning grooves 312 to position the pivoting disk 31. Specifically, the positioning unit 34 is resilient, such that the positioning unit 34 is capable of protruding into one of the positioning grooves 312 to position and to fix the pivoting disk 31 when the pivoting disk 31 is not turned, and is capable of retracting back from said positioning groove 312 to release the pivoting disk 31 when the pivoting disk 31 is turned. But in another embodiment, the positioning unit 34 and the positioning grooves 312 can also be respectively implemented as a pin and holes.

The two limiting units 35 are securely mounted on the pivoting disk 31. The brake cable 11 is located between the two limiting units 35, so that the brake cable 11 can be limited within a certain range of space during pivoting of the pivoting disk 31. Specifically, the two limiting units 35 protrude from a side surface of the pivoting disk 31 and are spaced apart from each other to form a limiting space between the two limiting units 35, and the brake cable 11 is limited in the limiting space. In addition, in this embodiment, the two limiting units 35 are screws, but in other embodiments, the two limiting units 35 are not limited to screws and the operating mechanism 30 can also be implemented without the two limiting units 35.

By the pivoting disk 31 pivotally mounted on the bike frame A and the resistance cable 21 connected to the pivoting disk 31, when the pivoting disk 31 pivots, the rope body of the resistance cable 21 is winded on the outer annular surface of the pivoting disk 31, and the rope body of the resistance cable 21 engages in the annular groove 311 of the pivoting disk 31, so that the pivoting disk 31 is capable of tightening or releasing the resistance cable 21 to operate the resistance mechanism 20.

By the pivoting segment 331 of the operating rod 33 pivotally mounted on the connecting unit 32 and the hook segment 332 connected to the brake cable 11, when the user pulls the operating rod 33 and moves the shaft segment 333 relative to the pivoting disk 31, the hook segment 332 moves along with the shaft segment 333 to tighten or to release the brake cable 11 to operate the brake mechanism 10.

Because the operating rod 33 is capable of turning the pivoting disk 31 via the connecting unit 32 to operate the resistance mechanism 20, and the operating rod 33 is also capable of pivoting relative to the pivoting disk 31 to operate the brake mechanism 10, the user is allowed to operate the brake mechanism 10 and the resistance mechanism 20 with one operating rod 33, thereby simplifying visual appearance of the exercise bike, making the operation more convenient, and reducing costs of components.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated operating device adapted to be mounted on a bike frame and adapted to control a wheel; the integrated operating device having: a brake mechanism adapted to be mounted on the bike frame, adapted to stop the wheel from rotating, and having a brake cable; a resistance mechanism adapted to be mounted on the bike frame, adapted to apply rotating resistance to the wheel, and having a resistance cable; and an operating mechanism having a pivoting disk adapted to be pivotally mounted on the bike frame; an end of the resistance cable connected to an edge of the pivoting disk; wherein when the pivoting disk pivots, the resistance cable is winded around an outer annular surface of the pivoting disk such that the pivoting disk is capable of tightening or releasing the resistance cable; a connecting unit securely mounted on the pivoting disk; and a operating rod being capable of turning the pivoting disk via the connecting unit and having a pivoting segment pivotally mounted on the connecting unit; a hook segment securely mounted on the pivoting segment and connected to the brake cable; and a shaft segment securely mounted on the pivoting segment and being capable of moving relative to the pivoting disk by the pivoting segment pivoting relative to the connecting unit; wherein when the shaft segment moves, the hook segment moves along with the shaft segment to tighten or to release the brake cable.
 2. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting disk of the operating mechanism has an annular groove formed on the outer annular surface of the pivoting disk; wherein when the pivoting disk pivots, the resistance cable engages in the annular groove.
 3. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pivot between the pivoting segment and the connecting unit is parallel to the pivoting disk.
 4. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a pivot between the pivoting segment and the connecting unit is parallel to the pivoting disk.
 5. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting disk has multiple positioning grooves formed on a side surface of the pivoting disk and arranged in an arced line; and the operating mechanism has a positioning unit adapted to be mounted on the bike frame; wherein when the pivoting disk pivots, the positioning unit selectively engages in one of the positioning grooves to position the pivoting disk.
 6. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pivoting disk has multiple positioning grooves formed on a side surface of the pivoting disk and arranged in an arced line; and the operating mechanism has a positioning unit adapted to be mounted on the bike frame; wherein when the pivoting disk pivots, the positioning unit selectively engages in one of the positioning grooves to position the pivoting disk.
 7. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a notch is formed on the outer annular surface of the pivoting disk and concaved toward a center of the pivoting disk; and the pivoting segment and the hook segment of the operating rod are located in the notch.
 8. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a notch is formed on the outer annular surface of the pivoting disk and concaved toward a center of the pivoting disk; and the pivoting segment and the hook segment of the operating rod are located in the notch.
 9. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connecting point between the hook segment of the operating rod and the brake cable and a pivoting point between the pivoting segment of the operating rod and the connecting unit are respectively located on two sides of the pivoting disk.
 10. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a connecting point between the hook segment of the operating rod and the brake cable and a pivoting point between the pivoting segment of the operating rod and the connecting unit are respectively located on two sides of the pivoting disk.
 11. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting unit is securely mounted on one of two sides of the pivoting disk, and is pivotally connected to the operating rod on the other one of the two sides of the pivoting disk.
 12. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the connecting unit is securely mounted on one of the two sides of the pivoting disk, and is pivotally connected to the operating rod on the other one of the two sides of the pivoting disk.
 13. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting unit has a stopping segment; and the operating rod selectively abuts the stopping segment.
 14. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the connecting unit has a stopping segment; and the operating rod selectively abuts the stopping segment.
 15. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating mechanism has two limiting units securely mounted on the pivoting disk; and the brake cable is located between the two limiting units.
 16. The integrated operating device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operating mechanism has two limiting units securely mounted on the pivoting disk; and the brake cable is located between the two limiting units. 